As of today, the Obama administration has granted No Child Left Behind waivers to 37 states, plus the District of Columbia.

The waivers free the states of the main component of the law, which was championed by former president George W. Bush. Their federal funding will no longer be tied to test scores of public school students.

"Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia can't wait any longer for education reform," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a press release. "A strong, bipartisan reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act remains the best path forward in education reform, but as these states have demonstrated, our kids can't wait any longer for Congress to act."

The law applies to schools within the Bureau of Indian Education but the agency is also seeking a waiver. The goal is to create a single standard for Indian students.

"This component is critical, because the BIE — unlike the states — lacks a single, coherent accountability system," the summary of the draft request reads. "BIE is required to utilize the respective accountability systems of the 23 states in which its schools are located."

The BIE's request is pending.

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Education Secretary Duncan gives 3 more states permission to ignore No Child Left Behind law (AP 5/20)

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